Higher education discussed

A. Chandramohan, State committee member of CPI (ML), addressing members of All India Students Association at a workshop in Madurai on Sunday. Photo: G. Moorthy

The All India Students Association (AISA) conducted a workshop on higher education in the city on Sunday.

Members of the CPI (ML) and academicians from various colleges spoke on topics such as issues faced by higher education institutions and history of the AISA.

Speaking on the background of education in the country, A. Chandramohan, member of CPI (ML) State committee, expressed concern over the future of higher education.

“Education is becoming more of a corporate affair. Educational reforms are not decided by academicians, but corporate heads,” he said.

“We have been requesting all along that at least 10 per cent the GDP should be allocated for education,” he added.

K. Sadasivam of Madurai Kamaraj University Faculty Association (MUFA), urged the AISA members to discuss the issues faced by the colleges and universities in the State and come with solutions to overcome the issues.

“The number of deemed universities is fast increasing. This should be looked into,” he said.

Principal of The Madura College R. Murali spoke on the need to change the education system from being mark-oriented. The members also passed resolutions to organise demonstrations against alleged irregularities in appointments of vice-chancellor in universities. Education incentives should be provided to students soon after the academic year commences and there should be transparency in appointment of staff in all the universities, they said in the resolutions.

G. Sathyakrishnan, state vice-president of the AISA, A.T. Senthamaraikannan, a member of Save MKU Coalition and MUTA, and V. Shankar, national committee member of the CPI (ML) also spoke.